“If you’d railed me—is that better? If we’d railed the hell out of each other?” She snorted at that and said, “Ooh, that’s a good one.”
“Why are you so perky this morning?”
“Well,” Hallie said, and paused. She was ridiculously peppy because she’d had a blast spending the night with Jack. Had they shared a night of passion? Nope, not even close, really. But sleeping in the same bed as him, hearing the snuffly sleeping noises he made, waking up to his arm resting over her in his sleep—she’d loved every bit of it. “There are donuts in the lobby.”
He shot her a look. “This elfin mood is donut-inspired?”
“Absolutely.” Lies. She was also in a good mood because she’d decided that since Jack was the AntiSex, she was going to play the one-up game big-time for the entire day. After all, it was the last day of the trip. They were going home tomorrow. She stood and said, “That’s why I woke you up. Want me to snag one for you?”
“No, thanks.” He pushed back the covers and got out of bed, and Hallie’s eyes went straight to his calves. Okay, not straight to them. They may have made a pit stop at his boxer briefs, but as she watched his legs flex with every step he took toward his suitcase, she decided she was grateful he liked running. “I don’t usually eat until after my run.”
Hallie tilted her head. “Are you sure you should be running around the mountains by yourself this early in the morning?”
He unzipped his bag. “Why would that be an issue?”
“Bears. I don’t want you to get your face eaten off.”
“Awww. So sweet.” He reached for a pair of basketball shorts. “I’ll be fine, Hal.”
“I’m going for donuts, then.”
“Enjoy.” He looked at her then, like he was finally awake enough to see her, and when he gave her a slow smile, she felt it in her fingertips.
That was really the last time they were together that day. While Jack was running, Hallie was summoned to her mother’s room to help tie ribbons on tiny bottles of bubbles. After she finished, she was informed she only had an hour before she had to head to the salon with the rest of the bridesmaids.
When she got to her hotel room, Jack wasn’t there.
She texted: Where are you? Please tell me a bear didn’t eat you.
Jack: You’d miss me, wouldn’t you?
Hallie: I was really looking forward to embarrassing you with my offensive PDA today.
Jack: I ran into Chuck, who wanted me to go with him to get edibles since they’re legal here.
Hallie: That reminds me, I need to text Ruthie and check on Tig.
Jack: Do you want any edibles?
Hallie: Baby, I’m a shit show on my own. I don’t need help.
Jack: Baby?
Hallie: Weird, sorry, that came out naturally and I’m not being sarcastic.
Jack: Does that mean I can use a pet name for you?
Hallie: Like what?
Jack: Umm . . . sunshine?
Hallie: No
Jack: Punkin?
Hallie: That’s offensive to redheads.
Jack: My apologies. Um . . . how about Shortcakes?
Hallie: That’s so Fonzie.
Hallie: OKAY. The reason I was texting was to let you know that I’m heading to the salon, and then we’re getting our nails done and having a special bridal party luncheon.
Jack: When will you be back, Pudding Pop?
Hallie: Probably won’t be, Numb Nuts. Are you okay meeting me at the wedding?
Jack: Of course.
Hallie threw herself into bridal party mania, opting to be the excitedly enthusiastic sister as opposed to the cynical dick she’d been about the wedding thus far. She got her nails done, got a blowout, and pretended a chicken salad was the most delicious meal she’d ever had.
At lunch, her mother waved her over to where she was animatedly chatting with two of Hallie’s aunts.
“Hey,” she said, feeling a little nervous as the trio smiled at her in a weird way.
“Alma has a question about your boyfriend,” her mother said, gesturing toward Hallie’s tiny aunt with flame-red hair.
Uh-oh. Hallie gave a polite smile and said, “Yes?”
“Did he really design the Larsson Center in Zurich?”
“What?” She looked at her senior aunt and had no idea what the woman was talking about. “Zurich, as in Switzerland?”
“Well, of course, Hal,” Hallie’s mother said, looking irritated. “What other Zurich is there?”
“Well, I’m sure there’s probably a Zurich, Indiana, or Zurich, South Dakota, somewhere,” she said, trying to figure out where this Jack information was coming from.